Two items that have thoroughly enhanced my enjoyment of this hobby the past few years: An RTL-SDR Dongle, and the Inovato HamClock System.
And either will just set you back $50.
The RTL-SDR dongle will turn your computer, phone or tablet into a radio scanner/ham radio receiver that can receive nearly all RF signals. And is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Linux, and Android. Here is a non-affiliate link to a popular kit on Amazon -
And I think I've written about the Inovato HamClock setup before. For $50, The Inovato Quadra PC bundle features the fantastic HamClock by Elwood Downey. Gives you all the essentials you need to run HamClock (will always auto-update to the latest) on your 1080p or higher resolution TV or monitor. This kit INCLUDES the Quadra PC, HDMI cable, ham-friendly USB power adapter, custom stand, a quiet fan with a short cable, and a USB hub for a neat, small-footprint and cooler-running installation. Just add your own keyboard/mouse if you don't purchase their +$10 mini-keyboard. The Quadra PC that you receive also has more ham-related programs pre-installed. It's Debian/Linux XFCE - a "Pi-like" experience. But you do not need to know ANY programming skills to get up and running. Non-affiliate link at -
My - how ham shacks have changed the past 25 years!
Clint K6LCS Work-Sat.com